Anti-methane activist booked for sedition in Trichy

TNN | Updated: Oct 30, 2017, 8:57 IST

T Jayaraman during the book launch event on October 22.

TRICHY: T Jayaraman, chief coordinator of Anti-Methane Project Federation was booked for sedition reportedly for speaking, and publishing a book against the sovereignty of state. The case was booked by Mayiladuthurai police personnel on Sunday for the event that was held in the same town on October 22, 2017.

Police sources said that the anti-methane activist Jayaraman was speaking during a book launch event held at Madhanam Street of Mayiladuthurai town on October 22. The event was said to be hosted for launching a book titled ‘Nadhigal Inaippum Aarugalai Pidingi Virkkum India’(Interlinking of rivers and India that snatches and sells rivers) written by the activist Jayaraman.Police sources said that a case was booked under section 153B (1)(b) of The Indian Penal Code for speaking against sovereignty and national integration. Reacting to the development, Jayaraman told ToI that the sedition charge levelled at him was against the freedom of expression and said that he would face it legally. ”The charges are baseless, and the book is certainly not against national unity. The book launch event was only raising awareness among people and youths about the need to safeguard rivers and water bodies,” Jayaraman added. It may be recalled that Jayaraman was one of the nine persons arrested by Pandhanallur police in Thanjavur district charged with the offence of instigating protests against ONGC's oil extraction in Kathiramangalam, Thanjavur on July, 2017. Jayaraman has been heading the Anti-Methane Federation project that opposes plans to extract Coal-Bed Methane and crude oil in delta districts of Tamil Nadu. His federation has also been demanding the delta districts to be declared as protected zone for agriculture practices.